Knowledge and Awareness of Routine Biosafety Measures and Proper Waste Disposal Practices among Healthcare Workers in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge and awareness regarding routine biosafety measures and proper waste disposal practices among healthcare workers in Karachi, Pakistan, and also highlighted areas in which training was needed. To increase knowledge of biosafety and waste disposal requirements, the Virology & Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan in association with the Biosafety Association of Pakistan (BSAP) executed a collaborative project entitled “Training Workshop on Proper Waste Disposal from Hospitals & Pathological Laboratories in Karachi, Pakistan,” with financial support from the Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP), the United States Department of State (DOS), and Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) for health-related issues in developing countries. A 50-question pre-workshop survey was administered to better understand the current biosafety and biosecurity measures in place at 250 state and private-sector clinical facilities (hospital and pathological laboratories) in the city. Participants from the 250 facilities were selected on the basis of first-come, first-served, but with preference for participants without prior knowledge of biosafety and biosecurity. After the training workshop, an evaluation survey was conducted with 28 participants. Results of that survey indicate that healthcare workers (HCWs) need to be offered training and refresher courses, in Urdu, to increase their level of knowledge and awareness of biosafety and waste disposal protocols to reduce both occupational exposures and the spread of infectious diseases in the community through improper disposal of infectious waste.